Portland Historic Races highlights Porsche as the featured marque;
also honors the big-bore thunder of Historic Trans-Am

PORTLAND, Ore. – January 30, 2007 – The Portland Historic Races has named the classic Porsche sports car as the featured marque at this year’s Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races. Joining the Porsches will be a grid of historic Trans-Am cars from the original Trans-American series. The 31st annual Portland Historic Races will take place July 6 through 8 at Portland International Raceway, located at 1940 N Victory Blvd.

With an entry list of more than 200 prestigious historic cars, the event delivers an exciting blend of high-speed racing and classic presentation. The racecars are divided into groups according to make, age and horsepower. A typical representation includes Aston Martin, Brabham, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lotus, Lola, Maserati, MG, Shelby and Triumph, among many others.

Porsche is being honored for its stamina in racing that has been sustained for more than 50 years. Porsche’s first production car, the 356 aluminum coupe, had hardly left the workshop when Porsche cars began making headlines at national and international events. Porsche sportscars have a storied racing heritage, highlighted by 14 marques and team championships, nine sportscar drivers´ world titles and uncountable victories.

Historic Trans-Am is being featured as a tribute to the hard fought races of the Trans-American series from 1966 to 1972. Each of the entries at the Portland event actually ran in the original series, and the cars have been restored to the specifications and rules of that era.

One of the more notable and popular features of the Portland Historic Races is its “open paddock,” which allows spectators the opportunity to walk right up to the valued vehicles and interact with the driver and crew. The event also presents a display of more than 700 collector cars and hot rods; an upscale food and wine chalet; a kid zone; an autocross; and a vendor midway.

The Portland Historic Races run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets cost $40 for all three days; $10 for Friday; or $25 for Saturday or Sunday. Children under the age of 12 are admitted for free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available at www.portlandhistorics.com and at the gate. Advance discount tickets are available at all Baxter Auto Parts locations.

The event is a fundraiser for the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA), a not-for-profit organization based in Portland that works to positively impact the care and quality of life for seriously ill children and teens with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses throughout Oregon and the United States. This is the sixth year the racing event has associated itself with CCA.

The Portland Historic Races are produced and sanctioned by the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA). Established in 1977, HMSA is an organization specializing in race events that feature historic cars through 1972. HMSA emphasizes the preservation and proper use of historic racecars.

For more information about the Baxter Auto Parts Portland Historic Races, call 818-249-3515 or visit www.portlandhistorics.com.